The program features selections from Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro," Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin," Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra" and "Don Carlo," and Mozart's "Don Giovanni" as well as music by Rachmaninoff, Sonevytsky, Bowles, Ives, Duke and Hageman.
Plishka's extraordinary voice and impeccable artistry combine to make him one of the world's foremost singers, praised by critics for his smooth, beautiful bass and polished dramatic skills. A leading member of the Metropolitan Opera since 1967, Plishka -- who attended MSU before beginning his musical career with the Paterson Lyric Opera Theatre -- appears regularly with major opera companies throughout North America, from San Francisco to Montreal, from Seattle to San Diego. In Europe, he has performed in Geneva, Munich, Milan, Hamburg, Barcelona, Vienna, Berlin, Zurich, Paris, Lyon, Marseille and London.
His artistry was recognized in 1992 when he received the Pennsylvania Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and when, several years earlier, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Great American Opera Singers at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.
Plishka has sung more than 1,000 performances, but his voice is most often associated with Italian opera, especially "Don Carlo," "Ernani," "Simon Boccanegra," "Aida," "I Vespri Siciliani" and "La Forza del Destino."
He has an extensive discography on Angel, ABC, Columbia, Erato and Vox Records. His recording of the Verdi "Requiem" with the Atlanta Symphony and Robert Shaw won a Grammy Award for the best classical album of 1988. The concert is made possible by a generous grant to the School of the Arts by the Keating Crawford Foundation, made in memory of former Essex County resident Beatrice C. Crawford, a noted patron of the arts and avid participant in musical arts in New Jersey.
The purpose of the Celebration is to develop collaborations with University musical groups to build a high level of musical presentations for the surrounding community. Master performers and conductors serve as artists-in-residence and offer enriching musical and educational experiences for students in MSU's musical program.
Geoffrey Newman, Dean of the School of Arts, said, "This generous gift from the Crawford Foundation will allow the School of Arts, designated by the New Jersey legislature as a ŚCenter of Excellence for the Arts,' to further develop its mission in two ways. First, by fostering exposure to and collaboration with professional artists, we enhance the School's goals as an institution dedicated to professional training. Secondly, by bringing such a high level of quality performances to campus, we enrich the musical and cultural life of northern New Jersey."
For additional information, call the School of the Arts at (973) 655-7817.
MSU is located at the intersection of Valley Road and Normal Avenue in Upper Montclair. The campus is one mile south of the junction of routes 3 and 46, 14 miles west of New York City.
More information on the University is available on its website: www.montclair.edu.
--30--